DJ Daddy's Epiphany...The Industry is dead and gone. Lack of management and an unwillingness to see beyond self-images,egos, and idiotic ideas and decisions resulted in the collapse of one of the hottest night spots, and one of the most lucrative nightlife businesses, in Birmingham history. I have moved on to much bigger and much better things where I don't have to waist valuable time on the insane thought process of someone else. But still, some people want to cling to what was turned to dust by poor judgment and a lack of the kind of flexibility and knowledge needed to make an entertainment establishment successful. I have no regrets about the 3 years I spent slaving to the ludicrous system of operation. I made a lot of money, gained a tremendous amount of knowledge about not only the bar business, but about how to deal with people who can't see beyond themselves and their own ulterior motives, and I made a lot of friends, both true and false! I had a good time. Thank you's go out to all of those people who bought CDs, paid the cover charge, stood in the cold rain, ignored the stupidity of the management and supported us, and me, in the beginning and in the end.

     I walked away from the Industry with a new sense of purpose. That may sound coy, but it's the truth. The whole time I was there, I kept getting this "your not a RAVE DJ" crap. But it never occurred to anyone that I wasn't trying to be. I am a real DJ - an entertainer first, and a DJ second. That puts me in a whole different ball game And then I would catch all this flack about the music turning to shit. But it never occurred to anyone that those idiotic ideas and decisions I mentioned earlier had a great effect on the atmosphere of the bar. It was out of my hands most of the time. I knew what I was being railroaded into playing was not what needed to be played to keep people interested and excited about coming in every weekend. That's the way I had it in the beginning, when I had more than basic control of the play list and everybody got into the club as a whole and I didn't have to deal with these people in management positions who would tell you they had never been in this business before, admittedly knew nothing about the bar business, but knew how to do my job better than me. Everybody loved what I was doing in the beginning. We had a manager that was great. He let me do what I know how to do and he took care of the management stuff. I played a little bit of everything for everybody. Worked great! But then that situation changed because of childish jealousies and high school playerism's. The people at the top couldn't be adults. They had to try and bring particular people down for the sole purpose of saving face. When the business needed some real direction and some real decision making, when it was time to really go to work and make people want to come because Industry was the cool place to be not because Industry was the new place in town, there was a big void. We were left with a person who knew nothing, and would not take advice from the people he had around him that did know. No one who knew what they were doing was allowed to speak. Or at least, when they did speak, they were brushed off and ignored. Those critical, crucial decisions came from people who did not know, or understand this business. All of the factors that go into entertaining people and creating an atmosphere that attracted people rather than turned people away were blatantly ignored. The end result was a phenomenal bar that quickly died because the atmosphere turned to shit. It got darker when it needed to get brighter, so to speak. It needed to be more structured, but it got looser. Nothing was done right. And by the time the management decided to spend some money and make an effort, as plausible as that effort was, it was too late. BAD MANAGEMENT KILLED THE INDUSTRY!

I could go on for days about how nuts it really was. I could go on and on about all the bad decisions that were made after I said "that's a mistake". I could tell story after story about all of the things that were done that led to the downfall of the business, not just the bar, but the business. Because after all, it is a business. We were all there to make money. I admit, we had a lot of fun. Maybe too much fun, but when it is all said and done, we were there to make a profit. But it is not as simple as opening the doors and expecting people to come running. You have to first have a place that people want to be in. You have to have an atmosphere that makes people want to pay money to get in, and spend money at the bar, stay all night, and then come back next weekend. The Industry started that way, but once the management really had to make some critical decisions, it turned to shit, QUICKLY! Once the new had worn off and it was time to go to work making people want to be in your bar, the management was lost. Then you have to create marketing that attracts attention. The Industry would not spend the funds needed to get good marketing materials in place to make a good impact until it didn't matter anymore. And once you get people in the door, you have to entertain them. That was my job, only I couldn't do my job the way I know it should be done because I was having to play to the every whim of the people in charge who just wanted to have a good time. I had to make sure those people were up on a pedestal for the world to see. Even if it meant the demise of the business. Even if it ruined the vibe, destroyed the dance floor's crowd and made people want to leave, I had to bow at the feet of the mighty management when he said he wanted to hear some bullshit song, or do something stupid. He had to know that he could order everybody around. He had to be the big bad club man that everybody feared no matter how much damage he did to his business. He had to be above everybody else. He had to have people looking up to him. He would pitch a fit about how he needed to make money this weekend, but then pull some shit music that he wanted to hear and completely destroy the vibe. But then I was doing a bad job because people didn't want to dance to it. It was not looked at like a business until it was too late. It was a personal toy that made certain people look cool until the new had worn off and it came right down to it. Because when it came down to it, we all know what happened. Management couldn't cut it!

So by pulling all of these bogus "I'm on top of the world" stunts, we got stigmatized. We had a ghetto image, or a "Rave Kid" image because the management was not doing what the scene demanded to stay on top and keep fresh clientele coming through the doors. I am not trying to offend anyone here, but "rave kids" are not the heart and soul of the bar business. Nothing wrong with the rave scene, or rave kids, or anything like that, but alcohol sales are the heart and soul of the bar business. Not water. And the Industry was never intended to be a "Rave" bar. It was always more versatile than that. Well, we got heavily stigmatized because of the decisions of the management to allow certain things, and ignore other things. That made attracting a new clientele impossible. We couldn't shake the stigma of being a "Rave" bar, or a place where "those kids" go. That could have been avoided and the Industry still be alive and well had the management let some of the blowfish tactics go. But they had to save face and be the big bad club man up on a pedestal for everybody to admire. They couldn't have an image of letting someone else know more than them. Had the management been mature enough to take advice into consideration and rely on some of the experience and knowledge in the people employed, I wouldn't be writing this. Had the management been more adaptive, rather than egotistical, Industry would not have fallen into the slump, and eventually the death, that it did. Had the management worried early on about where the business would be a year from now, rather than how much substance he could take in, or how much tail he could chase, because remember, he was that big bad club man up on the pedestal that everyone looks up to, the Industry might still be around. But it was considered a toy, not a business until it was way to late.

I was making too much money to pitch a fit and leave. After all, I was there to make money. That's why near the end, Industry got put at the bottom of my priority list. I make a lot more money putting my time and attention into other ventures related and unrelated to being a DJ. I was not the problem with Industry. I was the life jacket. I created the vibe that made it a hot spot to begin with. John Kraft and I put out nearly 1000 fliers a weekend by hand to get some attention to the place because up to that point, the management couldn't get it going. I was there in the beginning. I was there for nearly 3 years. Did I ever get a thank you. Did I ever get a handshake and pat on the back. No! And if I were like the management that I have so tastefully deconstructed, I would care. I would make negative statements and derogatory comments about stupidity levels and other such childish things. But I am not going to do that. I have given you, the reader, an accurate synopsis of the reasons and motivations behind the demise of Industry. I have moved on to greener pastures. I am not worried about Industry, or it's affiliates. I do want to set the record straight. I want the general public to know some of the things that happened behind the scenes. That way, I am not the only one that knows the truth about why things happened the way they did. I do not want to carry the stigma bestowed upon me by the idiots in charge. There will not be another bar as successful as Industry again for a while. The new venture, Chaos, will not last. You can't half-ass do things and expect good results. The same corners that were cut the first time, that led to the demise of Industry, have been cut again and will lead to the demise of Chaos. It's inevitable. All the hands have been dealt, and the antes are in. The same ludicrous system of operation is still in place. The same ego's and attitudes are the weights that will sink the business. Because, again, it's not a business, it's a toy to the people in the right places. It is a status symbol to the people in charge. It's a good way to meet girls and have a real good time. And, let me tell you from the front lines, it will not be successful that way.

Let me say that the staff at the Industry in the end was the best in the course of the Industry. Maybe the best in any bar in Birmingham. I have some respect for the people employed by the Industry in the end. This little note is not necessarily directed at anyone particular person. This is just my summary of this situation. Call it an epiphany. But I hope that after reading this you take away some respect for the situation. And I hope that you have a better understanding of how crazy things really were. I hope that you will take away a new understanding of why things were the way they were; and why things ended the way they did. And I hope you will have a new understanding of how difficult it was for me to do what I know how to do best. As a final thought, I would like to say that what goes around, comes around. That is a good way to live. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Rest assured there are plenty of people down the line that will verify my story. I am not the only one who watched helplessly as Industry sank like a brick. Please feel free to e-mail me, or post to the message board with any comments!

DJ Daddy

Revision: I did not intend for this information to be a wish of bad luck on anyone. I spent a lot of my time and effort working against the powers that be even though I knew it was not the best thing for the long term of the business or me personally. I don't really have any hard feelings towards anyone, but the reality of the situation needs to be heard by everyone; not just those on the inside who really knew what was going on. I wrote this with the intention of making people aware of the real situation. Like I said before, what goes around comes around. But do not take this statement as a condemning blessing in disguise. I have no intention of being outwardly negative towards anyone involved with the Industry or with the new venture. Whether I think it will fail or not is irrelevant. That is just my opinion. Granted my opinion comes from many years experience and a vast knowledge of the business in all it's aspects, it is still just my opinion. The corners cut in the new venture may not be cosmetic, but the same insane ideas and processes will drag the business under. In a nutshell, nothing has changed. It may look different, it might have more substance, but it is a wolf in sheep's skin. Don't be fooled by the cloud of misconception. I encourage anyone reading this to consume this information and then go form you own opinions about this matter. Again, use the message board to post your comments and questions.

An Additional Thought: I have received countless e-mails and phone calls from people wanting to talk about this little page. It seems that a lot of people think the same way. What I have said here seems to make sense to a lot of people. Most of the feedback I have had has been a reiterating of what I have said here. But, of course, there has been some negative blow-back. There are people in the new venture that don't like the idea that I am better off now than before. The whole power trip thing is a bitch. And most of my predictions are proving true. What a sobering thought - I actually know what I am talking about. How different would things be if that was understood the first time around. How much better? Any way it goes, the bottom line is that you can take a horse to water but you cant make him drink. And once that water is gone, its gone! Ain't it Funny!

A Final Thought: The Chaos project has now changed hands. As you can see, my predictions were pretty much accurate. I am not posting this final thought to brag or boast. Just to voice my opinion. I still get some flak for the way the Industry went down. I guess we had more impact on this scene than we realized. This is my way of venting that false blame and incorrect condemnation on the appropriate powers that be. Now, I think you will see a much better establishment. Take notes, the new Chaos will probably be a staple in the bible on how to run an awesome night club. But again...

I WAS RIGHT!